[South Somalia]
Clashes broke out late morning between the Somali army, commanded by the federal government, and forces loyal to Jubbaland state leader Ahmed Madobe.
Photo: Facebook
Clashes broke out Monday between forces loyal to Jubbaland leader Ahmed Madobe, above, and the national army of Somalia.
Fighting erupted in southern Somalia on Monday between the national army and regional forces, amid deepening divisions that help Islamist insurgents and may exacerbate regional frictions.
Clashes broke out late morning between the Somali army, commanded by the federal government, and forces loyal to Jubbaland state leader Ahmed Madobe, residents in Jubbaland’s Balad Hawo district told Reuters.
Jubbaland borders Kenya and is one of five semi-autonomous states in Somalia.
“I see two houses burning,” shopkeeper Farah Abdullahi told Reuters from Balad Hawo, just over the border from Kenya.
Fighters were using anti-aircraft guns and mortars, he said. “Some residents have fled … the whole town is dead…”
For the full story: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-somalia-security/somali-forces-supposed-to-unite-against-islamists-fight-each-other-idUSKBN20P29Z
